Cardinal Forton’s Ambitions
Pendrago, the Blessed Capital
You can't warp directly back to Pendrago, but you can get as far as the Pendrago Entrance save point in Pearloats Pasture. At the entrance of the capital, you'll meet two Platinum Knights who explain that Cardinal Forton is forcing them to disband. Head to the Knights’ Tower to speak with Sergei and the Platinum Knights. Although they are upset by the news that Pope Masedra abandoned them, Sergei rouses the knights with an impassioned speech and restores morale. Sorey and Rose convince Sergei to let them handle Forton while Sergei instead works on improving his political reach, as the knights would be no match for Forton.
ITEMS
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Chiffon Cake |
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Resistance Shoes |
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Panacea Bottle |
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Angelite |
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Lavender |
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Peach Gel |
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Kingly Waistcoat |
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Hanging Hair (right) |
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Peach Gel |
ENEMIES
Devil  /  | |
|---|---|
| Level | 33 |
| HP | 3625 |
| Link | — |
| Weakness |  |
| Resistance |  |
Living Armor   | |
|---|---|
| Level | 33 |
| HP | 2868 |
| Link | — |
| Weakness |   |
| Resistance | — |
Werewolf  | |
|---|---|
| Level | 20 |
| HP | 2016 |
| Link | Lizard Priest |
| Weakness |  |
| Resistance |  |
BOSS
Medusa  / | |
|---|---|
| Level | 39 |
| HP | 20,195 |
| Link | — |
| Weakness |  |
| Resistance |   |
Head to the room containing the Sacred Inscriptions, and as you pass by the tablet a hidden door behind the monument swings open. Continue onward into the depths of the shrinechurch.
In the first room lies the Red Iris Gem: Tva (which unlocks Lailah’s Tortured Soul title, as well as an Earthen Historia scene) and a Small Red Tablet. The tablet acts as a key to unlock red doors. Open the red door and take the first right, and continue through the next red door before you. Go right again, then left, and then continue through another red door to reach the next map area.
Head to the large room at the very back, the central room in the southwest area of the map, and collect the Small Yellow Tablet there. Exit through the yellow door and continue northeast through another yellow door, but don’t head up through to the previous map area just yet.
First, detour to the eastern-most room to collect the Small Blue Tablet, and then exit that room through the blue door.
Head all the way to the opposite side of the map and return to the previous map area through the passage at the northwest end to get to the room containing the final Small Green Tablet. Along the way, stop by the central room with the blue door to grab its treasures and herb.
Now that you have all four tablets, a new accessible doorway symbol appears on your map in the center of this area. Activate the save point, and then head into the Innermost Great Hall to confront Cardinal Forton.
Inside, the group encounters a group of people that have been turned to stone, including Sergei’s brother, Boris. A voice from the other end of the hall interrupts their horror, and it’s time to face Cardinal Forton’s hellion form.
Dezel leaps forward and miraculously avoids Medusa’s petrification attack; it turns out that he’s actually blind! This is a great advantage in this battle, so armatize with Dezel and you can avoid being petrified. You can also just block or move out of range whenever the big floating eyes appear in the air, signalling Medusa’s petrification attack, but it’s easiest if at least half your team is immune to petrification throughout the entire battle. Once you know what to look for, avoiding petrification is pretty simple, but extremely dangerous if you get caught.
Take care to interrupt Medusa's artes as quickly as possible, as she is easily staggered but will call in additional enemies (Serpents) if given the chance. She is weak to wind artes as well, so focus on using the wind artes you have. You can even fight as Dezel—you won't have to worry about petrification on yourself that way.
Sorey and Lailah are unable to purify her, as Forton is too far gone and too broken inside by the overwhelming obligations that warped her intentions to safely return to being a human. Sorey resolves to kill her, but Rose intervenes and lands the killing blow before Sorey can. Rose tells Sorey that his duty is to give life, while her duty is to take life, and it’s clear she’s determined to keep Sorey from having to kill anyone while she’s around. Rose gains the title "Assassin", while Dezel gains the title "Shadow Seeker".
Take a peek at the Discovery Point "Crest of Maotelus" on the wall behind you before returning to the entrance of the shrinechurch and also watch the skit: The Statue Victims as you pass them. Since you have to walk back anyway, make sure to clear all of the rooms and pick up any items you may have missed, now that you have all the tablets. Outside, Sergei and the Platinum Knights meet the party as you exit, and Rose deftly informs them that the Scattered Bones were the ones who killed the Cardinal, diverting blame from both Sorey and the Platinum Knights.
Head to the square for a scene outside the inn and shop. The mysterious girl still watches the party, and Sergei promises Sorey that he’ll do everything in his power to keep war from breaking out. At the inn, Mayvin and the party discuss Maotelus.
A bunch of Sub-Events are open to you now, including one that will establish the Lord of the Land for Pendrago. Speak with Rose to guide you on these Sub-Events, or look at the Sub-Event section for specific information.
From here, you can complete two trials: the Water Trial and the Earth Trial. The order is up to you, but in this guide, we'll start with the one that's on this side of the continent—the Earth Trial.
